Full Throttle

As long-time readers know I’ve been an advocate of Kyle Petty stepping aside and turning over the the #45 to someone, anyone if truth be known. It damn sure couldn’t hurt.

I’m surprised to have found an ally via Mike Mulhern who provides these Patti Petty quotes regarding Kyle’s status.

“Maybe I’m the only one here willing to tell the truth,” she said. “They haven’t wanted Kyle in the car the last three years. They want a young driver, a 30-year-old, a 20-year-old. “But Wells Fargo, our sponsor, says it’s going to stay with Kyle, whatever he does.

“I wish Chip Ganassi (a fellow Dodge team owner) would take a look at Kyle. He’s got a 12-race sponsorship deal for next year that would be a perfect part-time schedule for Kyle. And Kyle could help mentor a young driver.

“They told him at Watkins Glen (August 10th) – right when he was standing there in his driver’s suit – that they didn’t want him in the car.”

Boris Said took over the Petty car and finished 24th.

So what does it all mean?

Hell if I know, Patti’s talking and Kyle isn’t, ’til he does it’s all speculation. Not that being clueless ever stopped me before, so here goes…

Kyle takes his Wells Fargo sponsorship and trots over to Ganassi, where it’s said Montoya may be shifting to the fully-sponsored Target car, leaving the partially sponsored Wrigley’s car available. Petty, having the advantage of Wells Fargo in his pocket - and they being a bank that must suck right now look to cut expenses - would ace out Jeremy Mayfield who tested the #41 last week and is said to be inline for that seat until Homestead.

As for the Petty #45, it could be A.J. Allmendinger if Boston Ventures, the new Lord & Master of Petty Enterprises, is the driving force behind placing a younger driver in the car.

But what the hell do I know? My credentials as a prognosticator/speculator rank right up there with the ability of those hammering out a Wall Street bailout in something under 6 months.

Which is to say… non-existent.